James Cameron’s latest film, “Avatar: Fire and Ash,” has ignited excitement at the domestic box office. This third installment in the beloved sci-fi series grossed approximately $36.5 million from 3,800 theaters across North America on its opening day.
Strong Box Office Projections for “Fire and Ash”
By the end of the weekend, “Fire and Ash” is projected to earn between $85 million and $90 million domestically. When international revenues are included, total earnings could soar to around $365 million.
- The film is expected to outperform the original “Avatar,” which debuted with $77 million.
- It is anticipated to fall short of the previous sequel, “Way of Water,” which opened with $134 million.
- Both earlier films surpassed the $2 billion mark globally.
If “Fire and Ash” follows a similar trajectory, it would make “Avatar” the first franchise in history to produce three films each grossing over $2 billion.
Plot Summary: “Fire and Ash”
In this new chapter, viewers follow Jake Sully and Neytiri, played by Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldaña, as they defend their family against a dangerous fire-wielding antagonist.
Other Films Competing at the Box Office
Second place went to “David,” an animated retelling of the biblical David and Goliath story by Angel Studios. The film grossed $9.6 million from 3,118 screens on its opening day and could earn around $25 million by Sunday.
In third place is “The Housemaid,” which debuted with $8 million from 3,015 theaters. This R-rated thriller is on track to generate $21 million over the weekend, featuring Sydney Sweeney as a troubled young woman hired by a wealthy couple.
“The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants” landed in fourth, earning about $6 million from 3,557 locations. Expected weekend earnings may range between $15 million and $20 million.
Lastly, Disney’s “Zootopia 2” took the fifth spot, with a Friday earning of $4 million. After four weeks in theaters, it is projected to bring its North American total to $272 million and recently crossed the $1 billion mark worldwide, achieving the fastest record for any animated film.
